monumental difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "monumental difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that is extremely challenging or difficult to overcome. Example: "The team faced monumental difficulty in completing the project on time due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Creating good-quality scientific products from the raw data of the satellites is an undertaking of monumental difficulty and requires a huge processing effort.

EPJ Data Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But even as he sought understanding for the difficulties confronting a monumental rebuilding task that has been under way for only a month or so, Mr. Wolfowitz was greeted with skepticism from many senators.

The New York Times

"Engineering fully functional tissues from cells in a petri dish is a monumental technical challenge, in terms of both difficulty and long-term impact," he said.

The New Yorker

"Engineering fully functional tissues from cells in a petri dish is a monumental technical challenge, in terms of both difficulty and long-term impact,'' he said.

The New Yorker

Officials and proponents of the cleanup say difficulties are inevitable given the monumental scale of the problems.

The New York Times

One cannot imagine the monumental importance of the task or the sheer difficulty of succeeding.

Huffington Post

The idealization of monumental single-cell spaces is sometimes justified, but the difficulty of evolving theories of planning by the use of historical prototypes should be emphasized.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The effort was especially monumental, in the words of Bi'Seyler, due to the difficulty in funding light art in Turkey. .

Vice

Even far younger comic actresses (Sandra Bullock, Janeane Garofalo) have difficulty finding parts that match their real-life appeal, without the monumental challenge of being 57.

The New York Times

Despite the difficulties to overcome, the value of miRNAs in clinical applications is projected to be monumental.

Clinical Epigenetics

The exterior may indicate the difficulty architects faced of finding an authentic institutional expression in the late 20th century: it is a deliberately anti-monumental monument.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "monumental difficulty", ensure the context clearly justifies the use of such a strong descriptor. Overuse can diminish its impact.

Common error

Avoid substituting "monumental difficulty" with weaker phrases like "slight problem" when the situation genuinely involves substantial challenges. The phrase should reflect the true scale of the difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "monumental difficulty" functions as a descriptor, modifying a noun (often a situation, task, or project) to emphasize the extreme level of challenge involved. Ludwig examples show it being used to describe rebuilding efforts, technical challenges, and data processing, highlighting the magnitude of the obstacles.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "monumental difficulty" is a phrase used to describe exceptionally large and challenging problems or tasks. Ludwig's analysis indicates it is grammatically correct and commonly found in formal contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific publications. The phrase serves to emphasize the scale of the challenge and the effort required to overcome it. While several alternatives exist, such as "enormous difficulty" or "formidable challenge", "monumental difficulty" is suitable when a strong emphasis is needed. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enormous difficulty

Replaces "monumental" with "enormous", emphasizing the great size or extent of the difficulty.

formidable difficulty

Uses "formidable" instead of "monumental", suggesting the difficulty is intimidating and hard to overcome.

tremendous difficulty

Replaces "monumental" with "tremendous", highlighting the intensity and scale of the difficulty.

immense challenge

Substitutes "difficulty" with "challenge", framing it as a test of one's abilities, and "monumental" with "immense".

huge problem

Replaces the whole expression with a shorter and more informal expression.

massive obstacle

Replaces "difficulty" with "obstacle" to underline the concept of impediment.

insurmountable hurdle

Focuses on the impossibility to overcome the problem.

daunting task

Replaces the whole expression with a shorter and more informal expression.

significant hardship

Focuses on the suffering the difficulty causes.

severe adversity

Emphasizes the negative and adverse nature of the situation.

FAQs

How can I use "monumental difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "monumental difficulty" to describe a situation or task that presents exceptionally large challenges. For instance, "The project faced "monumental difficulty" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to "monumental difficulty"?

Alternatives include "enormous difficulty", "formidable difficulty", or "tremendous difficulty", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "monumental difficulty" a formal or informal expression?

"Monumental difficulty" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more common in formal writing or speech due to its descriptive nature. Consider your audience and adjust accordingly.

What is the difference between "monumental difficulty" and "significant challenge"?

"Monumental difficulty" suggests a problem that is exceptionally large and hard to overcome, while "significant challenge" implies a notable but potentially manageable difficulty. The former is a stronger expression.